sports PINE CITY – The first day of competition couldn’t have gone much better for the Bemidji High School tennis team. The Lumberjacks traveled to the Pine City Invitational Monday and, for the first time since they started competing in the tournament, came home victorious. The Lumberjacks had four first-place...
Bemidji, 56619

Bemidji Minnesota P.O. Box 455 56619

2012-08-21 13:44:07

PINE CITY – The first day of competition couldn’t have gone much better for the Bemidji High School tennis team.

The Lumberjacks traveled to the Pine City Invitational Monday and, for the first time since they started competing in the tournament, came home victorious.

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The Lumberjacks had four first-place finishers – including two of the four singles players and two of the three doubles players.

“We could hardly ask for a better start,” Lumberjacks head coach Mark Fodness said. “It was a terrific day for tennis, and we played to the weather. We just played extremely well.”

The Lumberjacks won the 10-team tournament with a score of 33 points. Rochester Lourdes took second with 25 points, Red Wing took third at 24 and Staples Motley took fourth at 20.

Aside from the fact that it’s Bemidji’s first-ever win in 20 years at Pine City, making it even more impressive is the fact that two teams the Lumberjacks beat are ranked in the top ten.

Staples Motley was No. 5 in the Minnesota State High School Tennis Coaches’ Association preseason poll in Class A. Lourdes is ranked No. 7 in the same poll.

“There are always some high-level teams at this tournament,” Fodness said. “This is a good tournament and this was a very challenging one to win. I’m very proud of our effort.

Claudia Bellew won No. 2 singles and Alexis Konecne took first at No. 3 singles.

Annika Johnson and Olivia Dickinson took first at No. 1 doubles while Amy Frosaker and Kenzie Schultz won No. 2 doubles.

Jessica Solberg won third at No. 1 singles after defeating Emily Steoga of Red Wing in a dramatic 6-7, 6-3 (7-4) match. Megan Serratore took third at No. 3 singles while Jenna Lee, Claire Baumgartner, Nicollete Roy and Sara McNallan combined to take No. 3 doubles.

“If the worst performance in this tournament is third place, that says something,” Fodness said.

The Lumberjacks return to the court next Monday, Aug. 27, when they’ll travel to Brainerd for a dual meet.

Jack Hittinger is the sports editor of the Bemidji Pioneer. He is also the Bemidji State beat writer. He hails from the Great State of Michigan. Read his Bemidji State blog at http://thebeaverblog.areavoices.com/ and follow him on Twitter at @Jackhitts.